What England's New National Cycling Network Needs to Get Rolling
It should be music to English ears, then, that a dozen of its mayors have committed to piecing together a government-led national walking, wheeling and cycling network. England's first network put together with full governmental buy-in, it will build upon the extremely piecemeal existing network that, run by a charity, has lacked the consistent funding and official support to achieve its national ambitions.
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Business Insider
21 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Parts of Europe are suspending postal shipments to the US — and your order may not arrive
If you have been eyeing something from overseas, you may want to click "buy now" today. Postal services operated by Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium — Posten Bring, PostNord, and bpost — said they will suspend parcel shipments to the US ahead of the end of a customs exemption that allows low-value packages to enter the country duty-free. The conundrum facing postal operators comes as the Trump administration prepares to suspend the " de minimis" exemption starting on August 29. The exemption used to allow international shipments under $800 to cross the border with minimal paperwork and no duties. Now, these shipments will face tariffs, and not every operator can handle the customs declaration paperwork, have a payment mechanism in place, or be responsible for returns should a receiver refuse to pay tariffs. It's unclear when the temporary freeze on shipments will resume. "Due to the short timeframe to adapt to the new specific requirements, PostNord will temporarily halt shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico until a compliant solution has been developed and implemented," wrote the operator owned by the Swedish and Danish governments in a statement on Wednesday. Separately, Posten Bring, Norway's primary postal provider operated by the government, said in a statement that postal services have not been given clear instructions and solutions on how the duties will be paid or who would be responsible for returns. Therefore, Posten Bring sees suspension as the "only option." All three European postal services will suspend shipments starting August 23, which applies to all packages other than letters. This means that if you have a pending purchase that is not shipped by the deadline, your seller may need to cancel your order or arrange alternatives. But even if you're not purchasing from these specific European countries, your shopping options might still dwindle and become more costly. Etsy, the US e-commerce giant and a hub for independent crafters, posted a notice Wednesday that shipping label purchases for Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri, and Royal Mail for US-bound packages will be temporarily suspended starting August 25. Etsy wrote in a statement that these operators are unable to support prepaid duties at the moment, which may result in a large number of rejected packages due to unpaid duties and surprise costs for buyers not listed at checkout. Across social media platforms, many independent sellers based in the UK are also announcing that they can no longer support orders to the US, citing the introduction of an $80 flat fee plus handling charges for using Royal Mail to ship parcels to the US. "We hope to resume shipping as soon as we can, but we really don't want our customers to be hit with an $80+ fee," wrote the Citrine Circle, a UK-based crystal shop, on Instagram. "It feels like the world is getting smaller and smaller."
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Photos of historic tall ships arriving in Amsterdam for a maritime festival
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Yahoo
4 hours ago
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Manchester Airport told to 'do more' on drop-off and pick-up fees
A government minister has written to Manchester Airport, raising concerns about its drop-off and collection fees. Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP Jim McMahon has called for a full review of signage and the appeals process for those who are fined. It comes after the RAC claimed that Manchester Airport was the most expensive UK airports on a 'cost-per-minute' basis, along with London Luton. Research shared by the company revealed that 11 out of 20 airports increased their drop off charges since last summer. However, drop- off fees at several airports, including Manchester, remain frozen. The current drop-off charge at all of the airport's three terminals is £5 for five minutes, increasing to £6.40 for up to 10 minutes, while those who take up to 30 minutes must pay £25. READ MORE: Prisoner held hand of Gooch gang boss Lee Amos as he clutched chest in agony behind bars, inquest into his death hears READ MORE: Crime scene investigators tape off city shopping centre as man rushed to hospital after attack Manchester Airport has defended its charges on motorists, saying that the five-minute drop-off option gives customers 'flexibility'. Sign up to the MEN Politics newsletter Due North here But Mr McMahon, a Labour MP and government minister, has raised concerns about the approach to drop-off and pick-up charges. He has called for 'more to be done' to make sure there is fairness and transparency for people across the region to use the airport. He said: "Having an international airport - the 3rd busiest in the UK and the busiest outside of London - on our doorstep is fantastic for our borough. "It gives local people great access to places around the world for holidays and business, which goes unmatched in the vast majority of the country. "The money being invested into the Airport City project and the upgrades to terminals 2 & 3 is investment which we support. "However, it is important during this summer holiday season to raise concerns about the approach to charging for drop-off and collections at the airport terminals, and the impact on drivers who find themselves faced with unfair charges." In his letter, the MP calls for a 'full review' of signage approaching the airport, at the terminals, and immediately on arrival, an end to the practice of 'stacking up charges' and a review of the appeals process given that unsuccessful appeals increase penalties further. The minister also asked the airport to publish data on income from the drop-off and collection charges so that there is transparency on how much money is made through duplicate charges and late payments. The Manchester Evening News understands that the airport has responded to Mr McMahon and has been invited him to visit. A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: "Drop-off and pick-up charges help us to manage demand for access to our forecourts, where space is limited, and reduce traffic congestion around the site. "It means that the areas remain efficient even at busy times because people are not staying there for extended periods. "This means people can feel assured that if they wish to use our pick-up or drop-off facilities they will be able to do so quickly and effectively. "There are clear signs in and around the drop-off and pick-up areas that remind people to pay online or over the phone by midnight the day after their visit. "We also offer a completely free drop-off facility next to the nearby JetParks 1 car park. It is served by a 24-hour shuttle bus that runs every few minutes and takes less than six minutes to get to all three terminals."
